Defending NCAA champ Baylor is Big 12 favorite

IRVING, Texas (AP) — Defending national champion Baylor, with All-America center Brittney Griner returning from a 40-0 season, is the Big 12 coaches’ overwhelming pick to win the league again.

The Lady Bears got the maximum nine first-place votes in the preseason voting by coaches, who weren’t allowed to vote for their own team. Baylor has won the last two Big 12 titles.

The preseason vote had Oklahoma and Big 12 newcomer West Virginia tied for second, followed by Kansas and Texas. The rest of the picks, in order, were Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Kansas State and TCU.

Oklahoma State last season won the WNIT championship.

The Big 12 has ranked No. 1 in conference RPI for the past five seasons.